System and method for providing listing check functionality

Abstract

A system and method for providing listing check functionality. According to particular embodiments of the invention, an application program searches for and accesses a listing rule to determine whether a product is prohibited by a business organization from being purchased, or allowed by the business organization to be purchased. The listing rule is embodied in a first data structure including one or more pre-configured data elements identifying a classification of the business organization associated, and a link, and a second data structure referenced by the link, the second data structure including or referencing one or more data elements identifying a classification of the product, wherein at least the first data structure or the second data structure includes one or more user-defined data elements identifying either a classification of the business organization or the product, and one or more data elements identifying a listing condition associated with the listing rule.

1 . A memory for storing data structures to be accessed by an application program being executed on a computer, the data structures comprising: 
 a first data structure including: 
 one or more pre-configured data elements identifying a classification of a business organization associated with a listing, and  
 a link; and  
   a second data structure referenced by the link, the second data structure including or referencing: 
 one or more data elements identifying a classification of a product associated with the listing;  
   wherein at least the first data structure or the second data structure includes: 
 one or more user-defined data elements identifying either a classification of the business organization or the product, and  
 one or more data elements identifying a listing condition associated with the listing.  
   
   
   
       2 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the listing condition specifies a requirement to be met to validate the listing.  
   
   
       3 . The memory of  claim 2 , wherein the requirement is a time period.  
   
   
       4 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the listing identifies one or more products allowed to be purchased by the business organization.  
   
   
       5 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the listing identifies one or more products prohibited from being purchased by the business organization.  
   
   
       6 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first data structure and the second data structure are database tables.  
   
   
       7 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user-defined data elements include a customer sales group.  
   
   
       8 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user-defined data elements include a customer sales district.  
   
   
       9 . The memory of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user-defined data elements include a product brand.  
   
   
       10 . A computer-implemented method for providing listing check functionality, comprising: 
 receiving a listing check request identifying a business organization and a product;    searching a listing rule set to identify a listing rule associated with the business organization; and    accessing the identified listing rule to determine whether the product is prohibited from being purchased by the business organization;    wherein the identified listing rule is embodied in: 
 a first data structure including: 
 one or more pre-configured data elements identifying a classification of the business organization, and  
 a link; and  
 
 a second data structure referenced by the link, the second data structure including or referencing: 
 one or more data elements identifying a classification of the product;  
 
   wherein at least the first data structure or the second data structure includes: 
 one or more user-defined data elements identifying either a classification of the business organization or the product, and  
 one or more data elements identifying a listing condition associated with the identified listing rule.  
   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the determination of whether the product is prohibited from being purchased by the business organization is based at least in part on the listing condition.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the listing condition specifies a requirement to be met to validate the listing.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the requirement is a time period.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first data structure and the second data structure are database tables.  
   
   
       15 . A computer-implemented method for providing listing check functionality, comprising: 
 receiving a listing check request identifying a business organization and a product;    searching a listing rule set to identify a listing rule associated with the business organization; and    accessing the identified listing rule to determine whether the product is allowed to be purchased by the business organization;    wherein the identified listing rule is embodied in: 
 a first data structure including: 
 one or more pre-configured data elements identifying a classification of the business organization, and  
 a link; and  
 
 a second data structure referenced by the link, the second data structure including or referencing: 
 one or more data elements identifying a classification of the product;  
 
   wherein at least the first data structure or the second data structure includes: 
 one or more user-defined data elements identifying either a classification of the business organization or the product, and  
 one or more data elements identifying a listing condition associated with the identified listing rule.  
   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the determination of whether the product is allowed to be purchased by the business organization is based at least in part on the listing condition.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the listing condition specifies a requirement to be met to validate the listing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the requirement is a time period.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first data structure and the second data structure are database tables.